Hist105/Singapore
Week 2: Democratization
Singapore is a “democracy” in that it’s citizens vote, but every single year the same party wins and has the majority of the power. over 90% of the seats are held by the People’s Action Party, which has been in power since 1959. The other seats are either nominated positions or six seats held by the opposition party (a record breaking number for the opposition to hold.
http://thediplomat.com/2015/02/soft-repression-the-struggle-for-democracy-in-singapore/
Week 3: Slavery
Modern day slavery is very prevalent in Singapore. Workers from all over the region come to Singapore looking for a better life. Many women, in particular, take up domestic work and many are treated poorly. One mall advertised selling house maids as “low pay and fee” and working with “no off day.” Currently there are organizations, like Transient Workers Count Too, trying to fight the modern day slavery and human trafficking in Singapore.
Week 4: Workers, Slaves, Women Unite!
Women in Singapore were very influential in Singapore's history. After World War tow, they started the Singaporean women's rights movement as the were "indispensable during the post war effort" in the country, by setting up "food centres" and "the first family planning association." As the country turned 50 last year, many women were asked to not forget the political fight that Singaporean women had in the 1950's and by 1961, the Women's Charter was passed to protect the rights of women in the country. Many women's associations have since been created to prmote equality in the work place as well as in other global issue around the world.
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/let-us-not-take-gender-equality-for-granted
"Week 5: Working Class Heroes?"
Workers rights in Singapore contains much history, especially for unions. In Singapore, strikes rarely happen. The last major strike occurred when President Ong Teng Cheong miscommunicated sanctions against the shipping industry back in 1986. Strikes are usually never heard of. Strikes are considered a portion of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act, and, in most cases, "Workers in gas, electricity and water services" cannot strike. Others workers not in those fields need to give a 14 day notice to the company before striking. If strikes occur outside of those boundaries, a fine of 2000 SGD (or 1850 CND) is charged. Strikes are also illegal under the Public Order Act, unless a police permit is granted to do their activity. it makes striking "a difficult option." However, people still strike. In 2012, Chinese bus drivers participated in a strike because preference was given to Malaysian and Singaporean bus drivers as they received 30% higher wages than Chinese bus drivers. On that week, the buses ran late, which in a country that relies heavily on the efficiency of the bus system created a lot of disruption.
http://wagingnonviolence.org/feature/the-sorry-state-of-unions-in-singapore/
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/28/chinese-bus-drivers-strike-singapore